Roll of Honor
Irvin Jefferson Patrick
Incident
Wildlife Officer Irvin Patrick was shot and killed in Fayette County while he and his partner attempted to arrest a man for possessing two hen pheasants. While they were speaking with the man, his hunting partner leveled his shotgun at the officers and demanded they not make the arrest. Officer Patrick stepped out of his vehicle and a struggle ensued during which the shotgun was discharged. Officer Patrick was fatally wounded by the blast and died while being taken to Memorial Hospital. The 63-year-old wealthy farmer and former Adams County Sheriff turned himself in to the sheriff a short time later. The man the officers were originally going to arrest was also taken into custody. The suspect was found guilty of first degree manslaughter and sentenced to one to 20 years. He was paroled on October 5, 1961. While in prison, his 300 acre farm was sold to satisfy a $80,000 judgement awarded to Officer Patrick's wife. Officer Patrick had served with the agency for 14 years and had previously served for six years as an officer with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in Colorado.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, three children, and eight siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-6251FAB1- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
20 years. You could have gone home.
Wildlife Officer Patrick gave the Ohio Department of Natural Resources 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Columbus community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Wildlife Officer Patrick.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Wildlife Officer Irvin Jefferson Patrick is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 57.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Ohio Department of Natural Resources - Division of Wildlife, 4 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 44.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Irvin Jefferson Patrick's cause is highlighted.
How Irvin Jefferson Patrick Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Irvin Jefferson Patrick is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Irvin Jefferson Patrick was killed by shotgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
8 officers from Ohio Department of Natural Resources - Division of Wildlife are honored on badge.nw.
